[♪♪] TIME PARTICULARS TOWARD THE MAY PRIMARIES.

SOME REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR START APPEARING TOGETHER MORE AND WE FIND OUT WHO HAS THE MONEY TO FUEL THE FINALITY PUSH.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR AWAITS THE FALL CAMPAIGN WITH HIGH APPROVAL NUMBERS.

BUT WILL THAT TRANSLATE INTO VOTES IN THIS HIGHLY PARTISAN TIME?

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GIVES GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS ON IMPLEMENTING SENATE BILL 150.

AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL RETURNS TO WORK AT THE U.S. CAPITOL AND TALKS ABOUT CHALLENGES AHEAD.

APRIL SHOWERS AND SOME COOLER TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME TO YOU "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AND ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE STEPANOPOULOS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER.

HAROLD ROGERS REPORTER FOR AND FRANKFURT BURROW CHIEF FOR THE CAREER JOURNAL.

ALSO TONIGHT AN ENCOURAGING TREND ON KENTUCKY OVERDOSE DEATHS AND REMEMBERING LONG TIME STATE REPRESENTATIVE LONNIE NAPIER WHO DO DEAL WITH THE POWERFUL IN FRANKFURT AND HELP HIS CUSTOMERS TRY ON BOOTS AT HIS CLOTHING STORE.

RIGHT TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WHERE DEBATES THIS WEEK ATTENDED BY SOME OF THE DOZEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO HOSTED A FORUM BROADCAST FROM LOUISVILLE AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOSTED FOUR CANDIDATES.

DANIEL CAMERON WAS THAT THE LOUISVILLE RADIO DEBATE AND KELLY CRAFT DECLINING TO ATTEND.

IT HAD A RANGE OF TOPICS.

>> IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE SELLING FENTANYL LACED DRUGS IF THE PERSON DIES SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AS IF IT WAS MURDER AND IF THEY DON'T DIE IT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED AS ATTEMPTED MURDER.

>> WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM SO OUR TEACHERS WHO HAVE A PASSION TO TEACH ARE ABLE TO TEACH SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN OUR CHILDREN ARE PREPARED TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL SO THAT THEY TOO, CAN HAVE KENTUCKY PROMISE.

>> KENTUCKY'S AS LOW AS 49TH IN WORK PARTICIPATION AND THE PEOPLE LIVE HERE AREN'T WORKING.

YOU WANT TO TRANSFORM OUR ECONOMY START HELPING THE WORKING POOR AND STOP PAYING PEOPLE TO SIT AT HOME.

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I WANT TO BE A GOVERNOR THAT STANDS UP AND SUPPORTS AND FUNDS OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THE UNIFORM ON EVERYDAY TO KEEP US SAFE.

WE'VE SEEN VIOLENT CRIME UP, SHOOTINGS ARE UP, HOMICIDES ARE UP.

IT'S TIME WE TAKE CONTROL AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO PROTECT US EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>> Bill: NOW, AS I MENTIONED, CAMERON WAS ABSENT FROM THE KSR DEBATE BUT I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN FOR A KENTUCKY NEWSMAKERS INTERVIEW ON YKYT.

>> ANYTIME YOU ARE IN LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING AS MANY PEOPLE TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE AND I WILL WORK WITH OUR FINE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE THE GOOD WORK THEY'VE STARTED.

ANDY BESHEAR REMINDS ME OF SOMEBODY THAT WAS BORN ON THIRD BASE BUT THINKS HE HITS A TRIPLE BECAUSE HE OFTENTIMES TAKES CREDIT FOR THE WORK THE ASSEMBLY HAS DONE.

THEY NEED A PARTNER IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE I WILL BE THAT PARTNER THAT WORKS ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN FRONT OF OUR COMMONWEALTH.

>> Bill: AND CAMERON CAME OUT IN FAVOR PUTTING A POST IN LOUISVILLE.

A RANGE OF APPROACHES HERE AS WE SAW AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

JOE, THE KSR DEBATE WAS INFORMAL IT COVERED A RANGE OF TOPICS AND THEY PUT OUT AN EMPTY CHAIR TO REPRESENT CAMERON.

>> THAT TURNED INTO A DISPUTE BETWEEN MATT JONES AND THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN.

MATT JONES SAID THAT CAMERON HAD AGREED TO GO ON HIS SHOW FOR THE DEBATE.

AND THEN THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE DEBATE HE LEARNED VIA PRESS RELEASE THAT CAMERON WOULD NOT BE ATTENDING AND HE WOULD BE ATTENDING A FENTANYL FORUM IN EASTERN KENTUCKY LATER THAT AFTERNOON.

SO THE HOST MATT JONES AND THE PEOPLE THEY TOOK THEIR DIGS IN AT CAMERON.

CRAFT GOT HER DIGS IN CAMERON FOR NOT BEING THERE.

THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN RESPONDED AND SAID THAT HE WAS BUSY DOING HIS JOB TRYING TO FIGHT DRUGS IN KENTUCKY AND ALSO TOOK A DIG AT BOTH JONES AND CRAFT SAYING WELL, CRAFT HAS BEEN THE ONE SKIPPING ALL THE OTHER DEBATES AND ISN'T INTERESTING THE ONE SHE DOES DO IS HOSTED BY HER LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FRIEND MATT JONES.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING BACK AND FORTH.

THIS IS A LARGE AUDIENCE ACROSS THE STATE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW POLITICS CLOSELY.

SO FOR SOME PEOPLE IT WAS THEIR FIRST INTRODUCTION SOMEONE LIKE ALLEN KECK HE GOT TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO A LOT OF AUDIENCE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE EFFECT IS OF CAMERON NOT GOING.

>> KECK IS WORKING TO TRY TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM THE CROWD.

HE IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT HE COMES FROM THE SMALL TOWN REFERENCE POINT.

>> HE HAS TAKEN A MORE MODERATE APPROACH ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

AND THAT MIGHT BE IN-- MAYBE IT'S HIS PHILOSOPHY IT MAYBE INFORMED BY THE FACT HE IS A MAYOR OF A MEDIUM SIZED CITY SO HE IS DEALING WITH ISSUES ON A LOCAL LEVEL LIKE THAT.

HE PRIDES HIMSELF ON SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS.

HE HAS TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

>> Bill: JOE, MATT JONES TRIED TO GET AN ANSWER ON ALL THE CLAIMS OF WOKISM AND WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> YES, THIS IS BEEN ONE OF THE MAIN THEMESES OF KELLY CRAFT'S CAMPAIGN HER ADS LEANED INTO IT, SAYING THAT KENTUCKY SCHOOLS ARE WOKE.

THERE IS ALL THIS TALK OF TRANSGENDERRISM IN SCHOOLS SAYING THERE'S CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN SCHOOLS.

THERE WAS ONE ANSWER WHERE SHE CLAIMED THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL KIDS COMPETE BASED ON RACE.

SHE DIDN'T GIVE EXAMPLE WHAT SHE IS REFERRING TO ON THAT ONE.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT ALAN KECK WAS ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF FROM THE REST OF THE CANDIDATES WHERE HE SAID ALL THIS WOKE STUFF IS JUST A WORD THAT PEOPLE USE TO ATTACK PEOPLE ON THE LEFT WHO THEY DISAGREE WITH.

AND HE SAID THAT WHAT HE IS INTERESTED IN IS LOCAL ISSUES NOT THE NATIONAL ISSUES.

AND HE ALSO WARNED THAT IF REPUBLICANS KEEP SLAMMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS LIKE THIS, HE COINED REFERRED BACK TO MATT BEVIN HOW BEVIN DID A LOT OF POPULAR THEMES BUT DEMONIZED PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HE LOST.

HE WARNED REPUBLICANS IT YOU GO DOWN THE ROAD IT WILL BE DANGEROUS.

>> THEY DON'T TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN KENTUCKY SCHOOLS FOR THE RECORD.

>> Bill: THE POLITICIANS AND CAMPAIGNERS AND ASSISTANTS TRY TO CONTROL WHAT THEY CAN, BUT YOU CAN'T CONTROL EVENTS IN A CAMPAIGN.

AND MONICA, THERE WAS MORE GUN VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE OVER THE WEEKEND.

THESE CANDIDATES HAVE NOT MOVED TOWARDS SAYING THAT THEY SEE ANY LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION THAT THEY COULD SUPPORT ON THE GUNS THEMSELVES OTHER THAN KECK SAYING MAYBE HE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO AUCTION OFF GUNS USED IN MURDERS.

BUT NOBODY IS IN SUPPORT OF A RED FLAG LAW.

>> IT'S INTERESTING WE TALK ABOUT WOKISM AND THAT PHRASE AND FOR REPUBLICANS RED FLAG LAWS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN'T TAKE A STANCE ON BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND IT BRINGS FEAR TO A CERTAIN TYPE OF VOTER ABOUT OH, MY GOSH ARE YOU TAKING AWAY MY GUNS.

SO THEY CAN'T MAKE A DECISION ON IT OR POLARIZE A GROUP.

THE NEWS ASKED THE CANDIDATES ABOUT RED FLAG AND INSTEAD OF ANSWERING ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST RED FLAG THEY SAID I'M FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT THE INTERESTING PART IS RED FLAG LAWS DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

IF WE DISSECT THAT MAYBE WE CAN ASK MORE QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES AS WE GET CLOSER.

>> Bill: AS THE PRIMARY WRAPS UP AND THIS HEADS TOWARD A GENERAL ELECTION, MIGHT THERE BE SOME CHANGE IN THAT DISCUSSION?

>> I WOULDN'T LOOK FOR THAT IN THE PRIMARY.

I THINK GUN LAWS, AGAIN THIS IS A PRIMARY WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS MANY.

WHOM DON'T SUPPORT ANY RESTRICTION ON GUN LAWS OR WHAT THEY WANT TO THINK ABOUT THOSE RESTRICTIONS.

SO I WOULDN'T LOOK FOR A SERIOUS DISCUSSION OR A POSITION FROM ANY OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES IN FAVOR OF ANY FURTHER GUN RESTRICTIONS.

>> THE LAST RURAL REPUBLICAN THAT I KNOW OF THAT STUCK HIS NECK OUT THERE FOR RED FLAG LAW WAS PAUL HORNBACK, AND WHAT HAPPENED HE GOT A SERIOUS PRIMARY CHALLENGER AND HE RETIRED.

THAT IS REALLY A DANGEROUS ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS TO STICK THEIR NECK OUT ON.

>> IN A PRIMARY LET ME NOTE IN TENNESSEE RIGHT NOW THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT A RED FLAG LAW IN THE WAKE OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTING AT THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL.

IT'S POSSIBLE REPUBLICANS WILL COME AROUND THAT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THE PRIMARY.

>> Bill: THE FAMILY OF THE SHOOTER DO NOT WANT THE GUN AUCTIONED OFF THEY WERE PREPARED TO TAKE A STAND ON THE STATE LEVEL MANY AND WE ARE GETTING INDICATIONS IT MIGHT BE IN FEDERAL POSSESSION AND MIGHT BE A MASS SHOOTING POINT.

>> I THINK IT SHOOTING BROUGHT GUN LAWS IN KENTUCKY TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATION.

THIS FAMILY ADMITTING THEY HAD HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE LAWS.

AND I THINK THAT IF THEY DECIDED TO MAKE A PLEA AND MAYBE THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT I KNOW THERE WAS AN INKLING THAT FEDERAL MIGHT BE INVOLVED.

I DON'T KNOW IF JOE HAD MORE TO OFFER.

I THINK WE ARE IN THE BEGINNING STATIONS.

>> Bill: CNN REPORTED THAT THE NOTES LEFT BEHIND BY THE LOUISVILLE SHOOTER REVEALED A PART OF HIS GOAL WAS TO SHOW HOW EASILY A MENTALLY ILL PERSON CAN BUY A GUN.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION NOW.

>> AND AGAIN WE BRING IT UP RED FLAG, MENTAL HEALTH.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ALSO ADMITTING EVEN IF WE HAD A RED FLAG LAW IN PLACE IT MIGHT NOT HAVE STOPPED THIS SHOOTER IN THIS CASE EVEN A NOTE.

WE HEARD THE 911 CALLS THE MOTHER TRYING TO GO AND STOP HER SON BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE THE RED FLAG LAW MIGHT NOT HAVE STOPPED THEM.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING.

I HAVE NOT SEEN THE NOTE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NOTE SAYS MAYBE WE'LL LEARN MORE.

>> CAMERON CAME OUT IN FAVOR PUTTING A POST OUT IN LOUISVILLE AND BESHEAR PUSHED BACK ON THAT.

>> CAMERON IS SAYING THAT THIS WOULD BE HELP TO COMBAT ALL THE SPIKE IN VIOLENT CRIME AND MURDERS IN LOUISVILLE ESPECIALLY AFTER THE TWO MASS SHOOTINGS.

BESHEAR TOOK AN ISSUE WITH THIS ON TWO GROUNDS.

ONE, HE SAID KSP POST WOULD PULL RESOURCES FROM TOWNS THAT RELY ON KSP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HE SAID THAT THIS SHOWS THAT CAMERON DOESN'T HAVE FAITH IN PD TO RESPOND TO CRIME CITING THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF STOPPING OLD NATIONAL BANK MASS SHOOTING BEFORE MORE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

CAMERON RESPONDED AND SAID, LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUSTS ME THEY DON'T TRUST YOU.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A BACK AND FORTH AND WE'LL SEE IF CAMERON DANCES TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> BILL, THE DEBATE WAS FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF INTEREST IN THE WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THE CANDIDATES PLAYED TO THAT.

IS THERE A DIFFERENT APPROACH THAT CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HAVE TO TAKE IN RURAL AREAS WHEN THEY ARE DOING EVENTS AS OPPOSED TO THE URBAN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT MINDSETS MAYBE AT TIMES AND DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT ARE INTERESTING.

>> IT HELPS TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND THEY NEED TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL ISSUES.

SEVERAL OF THE CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO NATIONALIZE THE RACE AND INTERJECTED NATIONAL ISSUES THERE.

BUT WHEN THEY ARE ON THE GROUND IN PU DUKE KA OR PIKEVILLE OR RURAL KENTUCKY IT HELPS THEM TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUES AND TO SPEAK TO THOSE ISSUES TO LET FOLKS KNOW THEY ARE IN TOUCH.

IT RYAN COMMISSIONER TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE WESTERN KENTUCKY A CENTER FOR PRODUCING AVIATION FUEL THAT DERIVED FROM AGRICULTURE AND THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO FARMNERS THAT AREA.

YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE ISSUES.

>> Bill: WE GOT NUMBERS THIS WEEK THAT SHOW WHO HAS THE MONEY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEK PUSH AT THIS POINT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT, JOE, TO KNOW WHAT CANDIDATES HAVE ON HAND THAN WHAT THEY BREEZED OVER THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS?

>> THAT IS USUALLY THE CASE IN THIS CASE WE HAVE KELLY CRAFT WHO HAS WAY MORE MONEY AND SPENT MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE AND BECAUSE SHE LOANED HER CAMPAIGN $7 MILLION.

THAT IS EASY TO REPLENISH YOUR CASH ON HAND WHEN YOU CAN WRITE A BIG CHECK.

THOUGH SHE SPENT ALL THAT $7 MILLION ALREADY SHE COULD WRITE ANOTHER BIG CHECK, SHE AND HER HUSBAND JOE CRAFT ARE VERY WEALTHY H WHEREAS ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE RYAN QUARELS WHO HAS BEEN FRUGAL WITH HIS MONEY.

HE HAS NOT STARTED TV ADS HE HAS $900,000 HE COULD GO ON THE AIR SOON.

BUT ONE DISADVANTAGE FOR QUARELS WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY IS THAT KELLY CRAFT AND DANIEL CAMERON HAVE THE BIG MONEY PACTS THAT THEY ARE RAISING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THEY WILL SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE CRAFTS SUPPORTING QUARELS HAS NOT RAISED MONEY YET AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WILL JUMP IN TO HELP.

>> Bill: AND WE GET AN IDEA WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM AND IN SOME CASES IT'S HARD TO TELL WHERE THAT PACT MONEY IS COMING FROM.

>> THE PACT SUPPORTING KELLY CRAFT GOT ALMOST ENTIRELY BANK ROLLED BY JOE CRAFT HER HUSBAND ANOTHER FAMILY'S WEALTH HELPING THEM OUT.

I WAS ABLE TO ASK KELLY CRAFT THIS WEEK WHETHER THERE WAS ANY CONCERN ABOUT THAT PACT COORDINATING WITH HER CAMPAIGN WHICH IS ILLEGAL CONSIDERING HER HUSBAND WAS THE ONE BANK ROLLING IT AND SHE SAYS SHE WASN'T AWARE THAT JOE CRAFT HAD GIVEN THE MONEY WHICH IS FASCINATING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PRO DANIEL CAMERON PACT GLUE GRASS FREEDOM ACTION, IT'S MAJOR FUNDER IS THE CONCORD GROUP A DARK MONEY FO1C4 NONPROFIT WHERE YOU CANNOT TRACK WHO IS DONATING TO IT.

OF THE DONATIONS TO THAT PACT THAT WE DO KNOW OF, PACE SAMATIC IS FUNDING CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN AND THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR GRAY SKILLS GAMES MAKERS PUSHING TO BLOCK THE BAN ON THEIR MACHINES WHICH PASSED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAST SESSION.

THEY ARE NOW SUING THE BLOCK THAT AND THE DEFENDANT IS ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON IT IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION.

>> Bill: DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT ANTI-BESHEAR AWAITS THE FALL RACE HE HAS A WAR CHEST OF $6 MILLION.

A NEW POLL PUTS BESHEAR'S APPROVAL AT 63% STATE-WIDE, 32% DISAPPROVE.

BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE DOES APPROVAL TRANSLATE INTO VOTES IN THIS VERY HYPER PARTISAN TIME?

>> WELL, HE IS DEFYING ALL POLITICAL GRAVITY.

THE KENTUCKY MOVED SO FAR TO THE RIGHT REPUBLICANS HAVE 80% OF EACH CHAMBER AND YET, YOU DO A IT'S POLL AFTER POLL WHERE BESHEAR IS GETTING 60% APRESUME RATING AND WHAT IS INTERESTING I GOT THE NUMBERS FROM MORNING THE POLLSTER LOOKING AT REPUBLICANS IN THE POLL AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING BUT THE POLL FOUND THAT KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS HAVE A HIGHER APPROVAL RATING FOR ANDY BESHEAR THAN MITCH McCONNELL.

HIS NAME IS ON THE PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS.

BESHEAR IS AN EVEN SPLIT IN REPUBLICANS THAT APPROVE AND DISAPPROVE.

41% OF REPUBLICANS SAID THEY APPROVED McCONNELL AND 51% SAID THEY DISAPPROVED.

THAT IS A FASCINATING DEVELOPMENT AND THE QUESTION IS THAT APPROVAL GOING TO EQUAL VOTES?

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND THE FALL IS THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THEY MIGHT GET UP TO $10 MILLION OF ATTACK ADS HITTING ANDY BESHEAR TRYING TO NATIONALIZE THE ISSUE WITH NATIONAL ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING ON FOX NEWS LIKE THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE.

THEY ARE GOING TO USE THAT TO HIT HIM AND THE QUESTION IS DO SOME OF THOSE REPUBLICANS OR INDEPENDENTS DO THEY LIKE BESHEAR?

SOME OF THEM LIKE HIM THINK HE IS A GOOD GUY AND TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING EVEN THOUGH THEY DISAGREE AND IN THE GENERAL ELECTION ARE THEY GOING TO SAY I LIKE THIS OTHER PERSON AND I AGREE WITH THEM MORE.

>> I THINK FEAR AND WORRIES GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

WHEN PEOPLE LIKE SOMEONE THEY DON'T ALWAYS FEEL THAT PASSION TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND GO VOTE.

WHEN YOU ARE AFRAID AND WORRIED YOU VOTE FOR THE OPPOSITE OR WHAT YOU THINK WILL DO BETTER.

>> LET'S NOTE IT'S BETTER TO BE POPULAR THAN UNPOPULAR AND WE SAW HOW THAT PLAYED OUT IN THE 2019 RACE THAT BESHEAR WON.

YOU HAD A GOVERNOR WITH A PARTY REGISTRATION AND WITH EVERY OTHER REPUBLICAN ON THE TICKET STATE-WIDE WINNING WHO LOST, TO ANDY BESHEAR AND PART WAS BECAUSE HE WASN'T POPULAR WITH SOME GROUPS OF FOLKS.

>> THE POLLS ARE SHOWING THE DEMOCRATS ARE UNITED BEHIND BESHEAR.

>> Bill: THAT IS WHERE YEAR IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AT THIS MOMENT.

JUST BEFORE WE GET INTO THE FINAL PUSH OF THE RACE.

MONICA, THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUED GUIDANCE ON SENATE BILL 150.

FROM PRONOUNS TO BATHROOM ISSUES TO SEX EDUCATION AND WHAT CONVERSATIONS CAN BE HELD IN CLASSROOMS.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE FROM CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS SAID THAT SOME OF THAT LAW COULD RUN AFOUL OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CONFUSING FOR SOME OF THESE COUNCILS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY NAVIGATE THIS.

HERE IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO DO THIS BUT THERE ARE FEDERAL LAWS IN PLACE THAT HAVE PROTECTIONS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE WILL BE TITLE IX AND WHAT GENDER DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS AND THINGS PEOPLE CAN'T DO IN RELATIONS TO TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.

WE'RE TALKING BATHROOMS AND PRONOUNCES AND THE KED GAVE A LINE IT CAN'T ISSUE GUIDANCE ON PRONOUNS AND THAT HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC.

STUDENT PRIVACY IS ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER PART OF THIS I THINK IS GOING TO AFFECT EVERY SINGLE KENTUCKY STUDENT IS THEY CHANGED WHEN YOU LEARN ABOUT PUBERTY AND STD'S.

THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO GO THROUGH THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLES AND THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE EDUCATION UNTIL MAYBE IT'S HAPPENED.

THAT FIFTH GRADE TO 6TH GRADE SHIFT WILL AFFECT EVERY STUDENT.

>> Bill: EDUCATION IT WILL BE UP TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL AND TEACHERS TO FIGURE THIS OUT?

>> THERE ARE WORRIES THAT SOME OF THE TEACHERS WHAT IF I SAY THE WRONG THING AM I GOING TO BE SUED HERE ARE THE LAWMAKERS SAYING THIS IS FOR TEACHERS THIS IS TO PROTECT TEACHERS.

BUT THERE IS FEAR IT'S GOING TO DO THE OPPOSITE.

>> Bill: BILL, EDUCATION IS OFTEN AN ISSUE IN THE RACE, AND IT'S FUNDING AND TEACHER PAIN PAY AND PENSIONS.

THIS ONE IS REALLY INTERTWINED.

>> THAUK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND WOKISM IS JUST INTERJECTING SOCIAL CULTURE WARS INTO THE EDUCATION SETTING AND TRYING TO SCORE POINTS WITH THAT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH ALL OF THAT.

IN WASHINGTON, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL RETURNED TO THE SENATE THIS WEEK AND IMMEDIATELY WADED INTO ISSUES FACING THE COUNTRY FROM THE FEDERAL DEBT CEILING TO CONFIRMATION HEARINGS TO JUDGES APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.

KENTUCKY'S LONGEST SERVING SENATOR MADE IT CLEAR HE WAS GLAD TO BE BACK ON THE JOB.

>> I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE BACK.

IT'S IMPORTANT BUSINESS FOR CONGRESS TO TACKLE.

WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO UNDO THIS ADMINISTRATION'S MISTAKES.

WE NEED TO SECURE THE BORDER.

REDUCE CRIME.

FIGHT INFLATION.

AND INVEST IN AMERICA'S STRENGTH.

AND OUR SECURITY.

>> Bill: SO McCONNELL WAS OUT OF THE SENATE FOR FIVE WEEKS TREATED AND THEN DID PHYSICAL THERAPY.

HE WOULD MUCH RATHER BE TALKING POLICY AMONG HIS COLLEAGUES.

>> WE GOT AN OP-ED AFTER HE GOT BACK HOW JOE BIDEN IS WRECKING THE COUNTRY IT WAS CLEAR HE WANTED TO GET BACK IN AND START PITCHING.

>> Bill: HE ADVISED THE WHITE HOUSE TO WORK ON A COMPROMISE OF RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.

PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS NO CONDITIONS.

WILL McCONNELL HAVE TO REFEREE A STANDOFF AS HE HAS DONE BEFORE AND WORKED WITH BIDEN BEFORE?

>> YES, IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

A DECADE AGO THIS HAPPENED WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, IT WAS McCONNELL NOT IN THE ROOM WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA HE WAS IN THE ROOM WITH VICE-PRESIDENT BIDEN.

RIGHT NOW IT'S BETWEEN BIDEN AND McCAR THU.

I'M SURE McCONNELL WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT BETWEEN BIDEN AND McCARTHY IF IT COMES TO THAT THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY AND OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY GET IN THE SAME ROOM THEY MAKE A DEAL.

>> AND THEY COME FROM THE DAYS IN THE SENATE WHEN PEOPLE DID STILL WORK TOGETHER.

30, 40 YEARS AGO.

AND IT WASN'T HYPER PARTISAN AND LIKE IT IS NOW.

SO THEY HAVE A HISTORY OF TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE.

>> Bill: BEFORE SOMEBODY ASKED WHOSE IDEA IS IT?

THEN I'M AGAINST IT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE KNOW AGAIN SENATOR McCONNELL IS BACK TO WORK NOW.

KENTUCKY STATE POLICE ARE BEING ACCUSED OF NOT DOING ENOUGH TO INVESTIGATE COCK FIGHTING.

ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS WROTE A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE SAYING COCK FIGHTING GOES ON BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

BILL THAT WAS YOUR STORY.

THOSE GROUPS WANT THOSE COMPLAINTS LOOKED INTO.

>> THE STATE POLICE RESPONDED AND PROVIDED A LIST OF 17 CASES WHERE THEY WERE INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING COCK FIGHTING.

AND SOME OF THE CASES IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO A TIP FROM ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT MADE THE COMPLAINT.

SO THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED THAT.

THE COMPLAINT FROM THESE GROUPS IS THAT THERE WERE OTHER CASES WHERE THEY REFERRED COCK FIGHTING THAT THEY FEEL LIKE WERE NOT INVESTIGATED.

AND SO THAT IS WHY THEY REACHED OUT AND THEY ASKED FOR THE STATE POLICE TO BE INVESTIGATED BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY AND I DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE.

>> Bill: AND MADE THE CASE USUALLY THE CASES GO FEDERAL.

>> ALL OF THE 17 CASES WENT TO FEDERAL COURT BECAUSE THERE ARE GREATER PENALTIES, IN KENTUCKY IT IS A MISDEMEANOR.

>> Bill: WE DON'T WANT TO OVERLOOK NEWS ABOUT OVERDOSE DEATHS BEING DOWN.

AND IT IS A SMALL DECREASE, BUT BILL, DOES IT PROVIDE ROOM FOR OPTIMISM?

>> IT DOES.

I MEAN FROM 21 TO 22 DEATHS ARE DOWN BY 5% WHICH IS A GOOD DROP.

THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS IT DROPPED.

BUT EVEN AT THE LOWER LEVEL THERE ARE 2127 OVERDOSE DEATHS IN KENTUCKY THAT IS A TROUBLING HIGH NUMBER.

SO THERE'S ROOM FOR OPTIMISM.

THERE'S REASON TO THINK THAT SOME OF THE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS ARE STARTING TO WORK A LITTLE BIT BUT IT IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM.

>> Bill: WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS RIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE THE F.D.A.

APPROVING OVER-THE-COUNTER NARCAN THAT REVERSAL DRUG AND I THINK TOO, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED WE JUST HAD PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE MEMBERS IN LOUISVILLE THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE A PERSON'S LIFE BECAUSE THEY HAD SIX DOSES IT TOOK A LOT BUT THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO AND THEY COULD SAVE THIS PERSON.

THE MORE EDUCATION CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING AND AVAILABLE.

>> .

>> Bill: YOU WONDER IF THE AVAILABILITY MAYBE THE OVERDOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT DOWN IT'S THE OVERDOSE DEATHS DOWN.

>> THERE'S MORE USE OFNA LAX OWN.

>> -- NALOXONE.

>> AND WE ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION THE METRO POLICE OFFICER WILT WHO WAS INJURED IN THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOOTING HE IS BEING TREATED FOR PNEUMONIA.

WE'VE LEARNED MORE ABOUT HIM.

HE HAD BEEN A FIREFIGHTER AND DISPATCHER PUBLIC SERVICE WAS HIS CALLING.

>> IT WAS IN HIS BLOOD.

HE WAS SOMEONE WHO DID EVERYTHING FOR OTHERS.

WE LEARNED THAT HE WAS ALSO WORKING WITH SEVERAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS I BELIEVE IT WAS OLDHAM COUNTY BEFORE POLICE.

IT WAS A COUPLE DAYS ON THE JOB.

MANY OF US WHO HAVE SEEN THAT FOOTAGE HE WAS GOING IN WITH HIS FIELD TRAINING OFFICER WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

THE FAMILY HAS CONTINUED TO ASK FOR PRAYERS.

HE IS NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HE IS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

PNEUMONIA COULD BE A TERRIBLE THING FOR HIM.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

AND THE FAMILY ASKED TO CONTINUE TO HELP WITH FINANCIAL HELP AS WELL WITH CONTINUE TO STAND BY HIS SIDE.

>> .

>> Bill: BILL, A INDICTMENT CAME DOWN TODAY.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED A CONSTABLE IN MONROE COUNTY WAS CHARGED WITH VOTE BUYING.

IT IS AN DOCUMENT IT IS A CHARGE.

BUT, IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THERE WAS SOME INVESTIGATION THERE.

THEY SAID IT CAME FROM A TIP SOMEBODY CALLED IN A TIP TO THE HOTLINE.

>> Bill: MANY REMEMBERING FORMER LONG TIME STATE REPRESENTATIVE LONNIE NAPIER HE SERVED IN THE HOUSE FROM 1985-2013.

A LONGTIME FRIEND FORMER JUDGE JOHN WILSON NOTED NAPIER COULD DEAL WITH THE POLITICIANS AND GET ON HIS KNEES AND TRY ON BOOTS ON CUSTOMERS IN HIS STORE.

LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES LEADERS HAVE SAID HE WAS IN THE POLITICS FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.

NAPIER WAS 82.

>> CYLUS HOUSE WILL SERVE A TWO-YEAR TERM PROMOTING LITERARY ART ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH HE IS A NATIVE OF EASTERN KENTUCKY AND HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL BEST-SELLING NOVELS.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.